State makes major changes In Zebra Mussel containment

The "clean, dry and drain" rules are now permanent for public waters in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Jack, Kaufman, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Stephens, Tarrant, Wise, and Young counties. The shellfish was first seen in Texas in Lake Texoma in 2009 and have since spread to several North Texas lakes. Most recently, however, zebra mussels were discovered Sept. 18 in Belton Lake, 60 miles north of Austin. It was the first time zebra mussels have been documented in the Brazos River basin, nearly 200 miles south of where they had been found previously in Texas.

AUSTIN, Texas — A state commission voted Thursday to make permanent emergency requirements for boaters to clean, dry and drain their watercraft before and after entering lakes and streams in 17 North Texas counties.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission vote in Austin came in response to the threat of invasive zebra mussels and their larvae spreading from lake to lake and river to river.

The commission's move makes the "clean, dry and drain" rules permanent for public waters in Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hood, Jack, Kaufman, Montague, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Stephens, Tarrant, Wise, and Young counties. The shellfish was first seen in Texas in Lake Texoma in 2009 and have since spread to several North Texas lakes.

Most recently, however, zebra mussels were discovered Sept. 18 in Belton Lake, 60 miles north of Austin. It was the first time zebra mussels have been documented in the Brazos River basin, nearly 200 miles south of where they had been found previously in Texas. As a result, the Parks and Wildlife Department issued an emergency "wash, dry and drain" order in September for Belton Lake, Stillhouse Hollow Lake, and the Leon and Lampasas rivers.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff will begin drafting regulations extending to Bell and Coryell counties in Central Texas, said Ken Kurzawski, freshwater fisheries regulation coordinator for the Parks and Wildlife Department. The proposal will probably be published for public comment in December and go before commissioners in January.